Donald Trump Decides Against Launching Immediate Strikes on Houthis in Yemen, Pulling Back Just Before Operation
WASHINGTON : US President Donald Trump has backed off from an imminent military action against Yemeni Houthis shortly before it was to be launched.
The New York Times reports that President Trump initially asked the Pentagon to get ready for airstrikes after receiving a letter from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The president finally rescinded the order just before the strikes were to begin, though. In fact, operational preparations had already been completed and comprehensive lists of targets and ordnance loading on warplanes cleared before the operation was abruptly canceled, said Operational Preparations Halted and Inner Circle Dissent.
There were also reports that most of Trump’s inner circle and key advisers objected to any military attack against the Houthis, fearing the expansion of the conflict in the region.
Meanwhile, the US State Department and several American Embassies in the region have sent out emergency alerts to Americans. All Americans have been urged to take extra precaution in travel throughout the Middle East.